Get Organized: My Favorite Things...

I can't say no to a challenge. And so it's with this in mind that I bring you my list of favorite things (aka organizers)!

Of course, in order for an organizer to make THE list, it has to be willing to give me 100%. I'm talking double and sometimes triple duty! I own and have used each of these items for at least 2 years, and each has exceeded my expectations.

(1) Cosmetic Organizer Travel Case By Travelon

I'm a military wife. And that means sometimes I live in distant lands, existing without the creature comforts of American housing. Like closets and cabinets.

I bought my Travelon bag in 2005 when I needed a make-shift bathroom cabinet for a year. Then I used it for all kinds of traveling. And now it's back to being bathroom storage. It has traveled around the world with me...oh, I dunno...like 3 times...and it's still standing!

It's big, it's sturdy, and it's mine! When it comes to holding toiletries, there is no other option for me but the Cosmetic Organizer Travel Case By Travelon.

(2) At-A-Glance Daily Action Planner

I'm the kind of person who will never go digital with my planner. I like to have something tangible, something that I can write in. Plus, if I spill my green tea on it, I don't have to worry about losing data or device!

The At-A-Glance Daily Action Planner has all I need: lots of pretty little pages to write all over!

(3) Post-it Portable Note Case

I hate it when I need to leave a message for someone or a reminder note for myself, and yet I have nothing to write on! That's where the Post-it Portable Note Case comes in. I can throw it in my purse or glove box, and I'm ready to slap a note down anywhere, anytime.

(4) Oxo Good Grips Magnetic Clips and Magnetic Mini Clips

Closes up chips. Holds messages on the fridge. Keeps matching gloves together. I think there's about a zillion uses for organizing stuff with these things!

The Minis are my favorite because...well, they're just so darn cute! And they also flip upside down and stand on end, to hold notes or pictures.

On the other hand, the Big 'Uns may not be quite so cute, but they still do a pretty bang up job.

(5) The Butler Bag

Accessories are my weakness. I have LOTS of purses. Shoes. Purses. Wallets. Purses. Jewelry. Purses.

First, I decided to buy a Butler Bag Classic in Expresso. It worked so well that I bought the bigger Butler Bag Hybrid in Expresso. Then I decided I simply must have another one, but this time in Red Licorice.

What can I say? Butlers do a great job of keeping me organized when on-the-go! And that's a hard bargain to walk away from.

And there you have it! 5 of my can't-live-without-them organizers...

View lists from other organizing experts: Megan @ Disorder2Order, Marcia @ Organising Queen, Eva @ Clutter Control Freak

Get Organized: Reality Check

I find with organizing, as with most things in life, it's sometimes easy to compare yourself with others.

The little voice inside your head shouts, My sister's house would never be this messy ~ My wife would never forget about the parent-teacher conference ~ My best friend has a full-time job, 4 kids, and still gets it all done. But me...

And when this happens, it's important that we give ourselves -- and each other -- a reality check.

The perfectly organized life? Here it is:



No one gets it right all the time. So don't be so hard on yourself!

Get Organized: Tax Prep

In the words of Dave Barry, "It's income tax time again, Americans: time to gather up those receipts, get out those tax forms, sharpen up that pencil, and stab yourself in the aorta."

Filing taxes = huge pain in butt. We all know it. We all go through it once a year. And while there's no way around tax season, there is a way to make the process less stressful.

P.R.E.P.A.R.A.T.I.O.N. (I'm hearing a collective sigh from all the procrastinators out there!) A little bit of preparation can make a huge difference in your tax filing experience.

Here are 5 steps to a help you file your taxes, on-time and un-frazzled...

(Think T-A-X-E-S!)

(1) Tally: Decide how many hours you'll need for tax prep.

First, choose a final date, such as "I wanna be done with my taxes by 1 April." Then work your timetable backwards from there, planning around your work schedule, family responsibilities, and extracurriculars.

Second, think about how long it's taken you in the past to file. If 6 hours of tax prep has been enough in the past, then this year will likely be no different unless you have major changes in your life. So pencil in 2 hours on your calendar for 3 Saturdays between now and April 1st, or maybe 1 hour each Monday evening for the next 6 weeks. Etc, etc.

Looking ahead will prevent a last-minute tax crunch and all the pressure that comes with it!

(2) Assemble: Gather all tax-related documents.

Search your files, baskets, and bins. Your objective? To find any and all receipts, canceled checks, and other papers that support an item of income or deduction.

Be on the lookout for important forms like W-2s and 1099s in the mail.

And don't forget about the charitable donations you've made over the last year! Visit www.itsdeductibleonline.com for *free* software from TurboTax that tracks and adds your donations year-round and accurately determines the value of your donated items.

(3) X-cessorize: Compliment your tax prep efforts.

I'm not talking shoes and purses here! It's all about storage. Now that you've got each and every one of your tax documents assembled, they must be organized in one central location, so as not to get lost.

There are lots of different tax organizers that can keep your tax papers in order. You can dress 'em up in style with something like the Buttoned Up Tax Filer. Or if you're not into fancy-schmancy, then you can dress 'em down with the oldie but goody manila envelope.

(4) Evaluate: Assess how you want to file your return.

Will you prepare your return or go to a tax preparer? Do you qualify to file at no cost using Free File on IRS.gov? Are you eligible for free help at an IRS office or volunteer site? Will you purchase tax prep software or e-file online?

There are many possibilities to consider! Weigh them all and find the option that best suits your needs. You may need to make modifications to your tally and time line, if necessary.

(5) Schedule: Make a date to file your return.

If you're doing your own taxes, make an appointment with yourself. If someone else is doing your taxes, make an appointment with him/her. Schedule asap - before the calendar fills up! And schedule a date several weeks ahead of the April 15th tax deadline, just in case something comes up and you need a bit more time to complete filing.

And remember: It's never too early to start tax prep for 2010!

See Your 15-point Tax Return Checklist and Prepare for Your Tax Preparer on MSN money for some more great tips on how to get organized for tax season.

Get Organized: Post-it Flags Coupon

3M recently expanded the Post-it Flag+ line. So in addition to Post-it Flag Highlighters and Markers, you can buy...drum roll please...Post-it Flag Pens! All provide you with 2 tools in 1, so you can find what matters, fast.

Thinking you could use one or two? Well, it's your lucky day! They're offering a $1 off coupon when you purchase any 2 multi-packs. Offer ends 31 Jan.

Get Organized: The Politics of Organizing

It's inauguration week, and the U.S. is all abuzz over politics. And so the Get Organized blog is jumping on the ol' politico bandwagon!

But not in the way you might think. No matter if you're a Dem or a Republican...we're here to talk ORGANIZED politics!!! (I know, I know...that opens a whole new can of worms. Can politics be organized? But I digress...)

Did you know that registered Republicans are 3x more likely to color code their T-shirt drawers than registered Democrats? And that Democrats are 5x as likely to color code their files at work, compared to Republicans? (Hmmm...try those out at your next neighborhood mixer.)

And what of our Presidents?

According to the lovely former First Lady Laura, she is always "exasperated because he [George] is messy." On the other hand, W. does value good organization. "I think he really appreciates it that the books are on the shelf in Dewey decimal order. Because if he's looking for a certain biography he can go find it."

President Obama also seems to have disorganized tendencies. During his campaign, he explained: "I ask my staff never to hand me paper until two seconds before I'll need it because I will lose it."

I guess when it comes down to it, the politics of organizing is a bi-partisan affair!

Note: Facts and quotes courtesy of Time Magazine, Reader's Digest, and IKEA “You Can’t Be Too Organized” Survey.

Get Organized: The Month You've Been Waiting For...

I would be remiss in my duties as a professional organizer if I didn't plug Get Organized Month. It's sponsored by the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) and is dedicated to raising awareness of the benefits of - you guessed it - getting organized! :)

If you'd like to take advantage of all that GO Month has to offer, then you have a plethora of resources at your disposal. Here are just a few of those...

(1) During GO Month, various NAPO chapters will hold public events like seminars or contests throughout the U.S. Find the ones in your local area here.

(2) Rubbermaid is sponsoring the Get Organized Contest. According to the contest description, we all have rooms at home that we wouldn't dare show anyone. (No, not me!) Now it's time to show everyone. And win.

(3) Last January, we talked about Self Magazine's challenge In 30 Days, You Can Get Organized. And it's still here to help this year! The only difference? Registering to participate could land you a luxe 3-night stay in Lenox, Mass. instead of Palm Springs, Cali.

(4) Amazon.com created a list of Top 10 New Year's Resolutions for 2009. Stop by to vote on your top resolution or scroll down to "Organize and Optimize" (#9) to view all kinds of storage and organization possibilities!

(5) Several national giants are rolling out the red carpet for those who want to get organized. (Woohoo - shopping!) Home Depot is holding its Winter Storage Event. Organize is having its BIGGEST Sale of the Year. The Container Store claims "happiness is an organized closet," and if you agree, you shouldn't miss their annual Elfa sale.

Most contests, sales, and offers will end on/around 31 January - so don't miss out!

Get Organized: When Organizing Isn't Enough

Julie Morgenstern. She's been on Oprah and the Today Show. She's been in the NY Times, Men's Health, and BHG. She's helped companies like Microsoft, FedEx, and Delta Airlines. Let's just say, in the organizing industry, you can't get much bigger than Julie!

She's my favorite organizing and productivity author, hands-down. Her "inside out" philosophy is simple and it works! The proof is in the pudding - she has written 5 best sellersthat have helped people around the world realize their true organizing potential!

Julie's most recent book is called When Organizing Isn't Enough: SHED Your Stuff, Change Your Life.

So what is this SHEDing all about? Julie was gracious enough to talk with me (for almost an hour!) about the book. I've included some of the highlights of that interview below. And if you're interested, the complete transcript of the interview is also available.

Interview

>>> Question: Most books that talk to how to get organized are just about that – how to...organize your stuff. But your newest book When Organizing Isn't Enough is different...

Julie: I felt that it was time to answer the questions: “When do you get rid of things?”, “What is de-cluttering, and how is it different than organizing?”, and “When should you focus on de-cluttering?”

...[De-cluttering is] a different process [than organizing] with a very different purpose. And I wanted to take that on. I wanted to kind of say the other half of the story.

So I wrote this book to say that de-cluttering is not something you do to get organized. It will never organize you. De-cluttering is something you do to get unstuck.

>>> Question: What exactly is SHEDing and how can it help people get unstuck?

JM: SHEDing is a very practical, pragmatic process for de-cluttering your life. To make room for change, to get yourself unstuck when you’re in the middle of a transition and you’re not quite sure where to go...

So the 4 steps [of SHED] are…

(1) Separate the treasures so you don’t throw everything out.
(2) H stands for heave the rest.
(3) E is embrace your identity from within.
(4) And D is for drive yourself forward.

>>> Question: How would [a] person know where to begin the process of SHEDing?

JM: I always recommend you start with something you have that takes up the biggest amount of space and that you have the lowest attachment to. It’ll be the easiest thing to do and give you a very big win, a big opening. And that energy is going to fuel you to then start tackling the other areas.

See more details about SHED: Interview Transcript, Julie Morgenstern, and When Organizing Isn't Enough.

Get Organized: Turning "Later" Into "Now"

How quickly "I'll do that a bit later" turns into "I've been saying that I'll do that for 2 years." We've all been there before!

It's such a common problem, especially when trying to get organized, that I've dedicated an entire section of my new website Home Organization Online to the very topic of motivation.

I believe that YOU best determine how to get motivated. You are the best judge of what works for you, what jump starts your ambitions, and what makes you want to improve who you are.

And since people are...well, all different, it's impossible to give one catch-all solution to the question "How do I get motivated to get organized?" It's a big question that leads to many different answers!

We can, however, narrow it down to a few common motivators that generally entice people to get things done:

(Click on each link below to view the associated feature or article.)

Motivator 1: Free stuff.
As an incentive to get organized, grab a copy of the *Free Tip Kit*, which includes 50+ ways to improve your organizing savvy!

Motivator 2: Free time.
If I only had more time! Now you can. You'll be surprised just how much time you can save if you simplify life.

Motivator 3: Helping others.
Share your story, share your ideas...and maybe you'll show someone else how to get motivated.

Motivator 4: Money.
Learn about the cost of disorganization - you could be losing $1000s each year!

Motivator 5: Positive energy.
Get motivated, get organized, and get happy. It's science!

Motivator 6: Shaping your destiny.
Experience the freedom that comes with the decision to get organized.

Motivator 7: Tough love.
Stop putting yourself in situations where you wish that you had made organization a priority. Shoulda, coulda, woulda.

REMEMBER! All options aside, the bottom line is - if you don't get motivated, it doesn't get done...

Get Organized: A Top 10 Resolution

The idealist in me loves January and the New Years Resolutions that come with it. The beginning of each year is a clean slate...a fresh start...a get out jail free card. It's a chance to push aside the old and usher in the new - no questions asked.

On the other hand, the realist in me understands that resolutions aren't always so successful. That they're often superficial and supported with little to no follow-through.

And so I go back and forth each December - should I make resolutions or not? And each time, the idealist in me wins the battle. There's just something about having another chance to get it right!

Without fail, I always have an organizing resolution on my list. This year, I'll be taking on the cord control problems in our home office. Sure, all the cords are hidden nicely behind the desk...nobody can see them, but I know they're there!

It seems I'm not the only one with organizing on the brain. According to mygoals.com, "I need to get organized" has made it's way into the Top 10 New Years Resolutions again this year.

Greg Helmstetter, CEO of mygoals.com, explains that 2009 "is going to be a very different year for many people...we expect people to forego big moves, career changes, or vacations and instead focus on reconnecting with friends, spending time with family, and organizing and improving their homes. That's where people are finding security and fulfillment during these very scary economic times."

So it's back to the basics for many of us out there. For me, it's cord control. For you, maybe some other type of clutter control?

Well, here's to you...to me...and another chance to get it organized, to get it right.

Get Organized: To Re-Gift Or Not To Re-Gift...

"I've been married for 12 years, and I've never worn a sweater in all that time. But what do my in-laws get me for Christmas? A sweater!"

This could be the cry heard 'round the world at Christmas -- a well-meaning present is bestowed upon a less-than-thrilled recipient. But in this case, it was a fellow party-goer lamenting about his holiday troubles.

I almost replied, "Well, you can give it away to someone else."

But I stopped myself. I thought, I barely know this man! If I say that, he might think I'm cheap...or lazy...or worse, a horrible person!

As a tried and true Southerner, there are rules one must follow. Like always drink sweet tea with ice, no matter how cold it is outside, and use "y'all" as many times as possible per day. And I'm willing to bet that somewhere back when, my momma told me to never re-gift a gift because it just wouldn't be proper.

Re-gifting: it's sketchy and taboo. But is re-gifting such a bad thing, really?

It seems quite logical when you get down to it. You get rid of something you don't want. (Can we say declutter?!) And you don't have to buy a new gift. (A penny saved is a penny earned!)

Motor around the web a bit, and you'll find some more reasons to re-gift. There's special wrapping available specifically for those who aren't shy about passing it on. Heck, even the Trumps are doing it! Now, if one of the richest families in America can do it AND admit it publically, then surely the common man has a good excuse to jump on the re-gifting bandwagon.

I guess we could go back and forth all day about if it's right or wrong. But there's no denying that re-gifting is a viable solution for purging unwanted Christmas clutter...um, I mean, presents. The question is -- would you ever consider the option?